Conversion arrangement for suction cleaners



Feb. 5, 1952 y R. c. osBoRN 2,584,495

CONVERSION ARRANGEMENT FOR SUCTION CLEANERS med oct. 29, 1947 I s sheets-sheet 1 TTORNEV R. c. osBoRN 2,584,495

CONVERSION ARRANGEMENT FOR SUCTION CLEANERS Filed OCT.. 29, 1947 Feb. 5, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVENToR. RALPH C. OsBoRN 4 TTORNEV BVM-Zw# Feb. 5, 1952 R, C, QSBORN 2,584,495

CONVERSION ARRANGEMENT FOR SUCTION CLEANERS Filed Oct. 29, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 [lll n s INVENTOR. H RALPH C. OsBoRN 7' TORNEV Patented Feb. 5, 1952 ATENT, OFFICE CONVERSION ARRAN FOR SUCTION CLEANERS Ralph C. Osborn, Bloomington, Ill., assigner to Eureka Williams Corporation, Bloomington, Ill., a corporation of Michigan Application October 29, 1947', Serial No. 782,815

AThisv invention relates to suction cleaners and particularly to a novel and improved converter arrangement therefor.

Suction cleaners of the floor type are particularly adapted for cleaning floor coverings, and it has been the practice heretofore to provide such a cleaner with an arrangement-so that attachments may be connected with the cleaner for above-the-floor cleaning operations. Various converter arrangements have been suggested for this purpose heretofore, and while many of them have been quite satisfactory in connection with certain types of floor cleaners, converter arrangements for floor cleaners of the type employing a vertical axis motor with a fan arranged below the motor have not been satisfactory for a number of reasons.

The present invention contemplates a converter arrangement which may be employed in connection with a conventional type of floor cleaner having a vertical axis motor with the fan arranged therebelow and which converter arrangement is easy to use, simple and inexpensive in construction, and which does not require an unconventional design for the suction cleaner.

The principal object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a new and improved converter arrangement for lsuction cleaners and particularly for a suction cleaner of the floor type having a vertical axis motor with a fan arranged Yon the under side thereof.

Other and further objects 'of the invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and will be understood byv reference to the accompanying drawings, of Ywhich there are three sheetsrwhich, by way of illustration, show preferred embodiments and the principles thereof andv what VI now considerto be the best mode in which `I lhave contemplated applying those principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes maybe made as desired by thoseskilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims. I also contemplate that of the several different features of my invention, certain ones thereof may .be advantageously employed .in some applications separate and apart from the remainder of the features.

Inthe drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a floor type cleaner embodying the invention but` with the converter disconnected therefrom;

.I Fig. 2 Vis an enlarged fragmentary vertical sec- Claims. (Cl. 15-333) tional view of the cleaner and illustrating the same with the converter connected thereto;

Fig. S is a fragmentary sectional view taken i along the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary bottom plan View of the suction cleaner showing a part of the nozzle and the .communication or air passageway between the rnozzle and the air inlet to the fan chamber;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 6 6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the cleaner with the converter separated therefrom and arranged for on-the-floor cleaning operations; and Y Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 2

and illustrating a modied form of the invenwheels I2, rear wheels I4, a nozzle I5, a dirt col-v lecting andv filtering bag I8, and a handle 20. As shown in Figs. 2, 4 and '7, the nozzle has a rdownwardly presented mouth, the cleaner body IIJ being supported by the wheels l2 and I4 for movement on a surface covering with the nozzle mouth arranged above and presented toward the surface covering. On a hard surface the nozzle mouth is supported by the Wheels I 2 and- I la slight distance above the surface, and when the cleaner is arranged on a rug and in operation the mouth of the nozzle will be in engagement with the rug due to the sinkage of the wheels I2 and I4 or the lifting of the rug by the suction of the nozzle, or both.

The cleaner further includes a vertical axis electric motor 22 arranged above a fan chamber 24, the fan chamber being provided with an air inlet 26 which is in communication with the interior of the nozzle I6 by means of the passageway or communication 28. The shaft 23 of the motor 22 projectsdownwardly through the fan t chamber 24 and through the inlet 26 thereof into cured to the cleaner at 56.

ing presented to the nozzle mouth. A flexible and elastic belt 36 driven by a pulley on the end of the shaft 23 is connected to the brush 32 so as to rotate the same about its axis during operation of the motor and fan, whereby the dirt dislodged from the rug or surface covering will be carried by the air which circulates through the cleaner.

into the bag I8.

A belt guard 48 spans the nozzle mouth I8 below that portion of the belt which extends around the rotary brush 32. The belt guard comprises a bar, one end of which is pivoted by pin 42 to the arms 44 of a bracketl 46 which is mounted inside the nozzle on the front wall thereof by screws 48. Coil springs 58 secured by means of the screws 48 are connected to opposite sides of the belt guard 40 so as to bias the same to the position shown in full lines in Figs. 2 and'7. The aforesaid arrangement, however, permits the belt guard to pivot in a clockwise direction about the pin 42 so as to move to a non-obstructing position relative to the nozzle mouth so as to permit the removal and insertion of the rotary brush 32. The belt guard 48 serves to prevent the rug or parts thereof from becoming caught between the belt and the rotary brush.

'The cleaner body I8 is provided with an upwardly facing converter port 52 at the front ofthe cleaner and approximately midway between the sides thereof, the port 52 communicating with the passage 28 as clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 7. During on-the-iloor cleaning operations the port 52 is closed by a cover 54 which is pivotally se- A coil spring 58 biases the cover 54 toits closed position.

The converter port 52 is adapted to have inserted therein a converter or coupling element 68, the converter 66 having a sliding fit in the lport 52 and conforming closely to the shape thereof. The inserted end 62 of the converter is notched or out away as indicated at 64 so as to permit the converter to be seated in the port 52 as shown in Fig. 2 without the necessity of disconnecting and removing the belt 36, the notch 64 accommodating the strands of the belt 36 as shown in Fig. 3. The side of the inserted end 52 of the converter exposed to the downstream side of the passageway 28 is also cut away as indicated at 66 so as to accommodate the strands of the belt and also to permit, the flow of air and dirt entrained therein from the interior of the converter into the passage 28 and the fan chamber.

. The other or outer end of the converter Ellis enlarged to form a socket 'I8 or coupling member for receiving one end of a coupling member 'l2 on one end of a ilexible hose, to the other end of which various suction cleaning tools may be connected. The socket I8 includes a plurality of latches 'I4 for detachably securing the coupling member 'I2 therein. The construction of the coupling may be like that disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 676,986, iiled June 15, 1946, now Patent Number 2,487,470 issued November 8, 1949. With this arrangement, when the converter is assembled with the cleaner the latter may be pulled around on the oor, being supported at such time by the rear` wheels I 4 and the belt'guard 48. v

` A lever 68 pivoted by the pin 42 to the bracket 46 has an end B2 thereof which projects through a slot 83 into the converter port 52. The belt guard 48 has an upstanding portion 84 which is arranged inside the lever 88. The converter 68 includes a slide or actuator 86 which is slidably secured to the outside thereof by means of shouldered pins 88. From Fig. 6 it will be observed that the converter port 52 is notched at one side thereof as indicated at 98 to accommodate the slide 86. When the converter 68 is inserted and seated in the port 52, as illustrated in Fig. 2, the end 82 of the lever 80 is in the path of the slide 86 so that when the slide 86 is moved from its position as shown in full lines in Figs. 2 and 3 to that shown in dotted lines in such gures, the lower end 92 of the slide Will engage the end 82 and shift the lever from the position shown in full'lines to that shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, thereby pivoting the lever 88 and the belt guard 48 about their pivot 42.

'I'he upper end of the slide is provided with a rest or surface 86 arranged to be engaged by the thumb of a person so that the slide may be shifted as just described so as to shift the belt guard 48 to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. This will have the eiect of raising the nozzle and the front wheels I2 above the surface on which the cleaner is supported andV so that the mouth of the nozzle I6 and the rotary brush 32 will be out of operative relation with the surface covering below the cleaner. Atv the same time the converter 68 will effectively shut off the flow of air from the nozzle to the fan chamber thereby discontinuing the flow of air into the cleaner through the mouth of the nozzle i6. The inserted end of the converter 62 obstructs the passageway 23 as illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, except for the accommodation for the strands of the belt 36.

When the converter is arranged as illustrated in Fig. 2, air will flow into the passageway through the converter and the cleaner will at such times be arranged for oiT-the-oor cleaning operations.

The heads of the pins 88 may be arranged on the inside of the converter E9 and the pins extend through holes in the converter wall and through slots |88 and 82 in the slide 86. Washers |84 secured on the outer ends of the pins 88 secure the slide to the converter 68. The slot IEID is provided with an oiset |86 which permits the slide to be arranged as shown in dotted lines and with a laterally extending arm |88 hooked under a ledge H8 formed inside the converter port so as to lock the converter 68 to the cleaner. When the rest 96 is pressed downwardly, the downward thrust thereon will normally tend to cause the offset portion |86 of the slot |08' to seat around the pin 88. When it is desired to release the converter from the cleaner, by lifting on the rest 96 and shifting'the same laterally the arm |88 may be disengaged from the ledge IIS and the converter pulled out of the port 52. A detent H2 is arranged between the offset |86 and the main part of the slot |88 so as to prevent the accidental shifting of the slide 86.

In addition, the converter may be provided with a latch I I4 which is arranged to be engaged by an edge IIB of the cover for holding the converter 60 in its inserted position. By moving the swinging end of the cover 64 away from the converter the latch II4 will be freed so as to permit the e'converter to be separated from the cleaner. Vihen the converter 68 is pulled out of the port 52 the springs 58 will restore the lever 88 and the belt guard 4I! to their normal positions as shown in full-lines in Fig. 2. Since the belt guard Vlll) is movable relative to vthe Tlever lill, it vvill be appreciated that the lbelt guard dit may 'be-shifted to a `non-obstructing position relative to the nozzle mouthindependently voi movement ofthe llever I8l). i f

lnthe modification shown in Fig. 8 Vthe construction of the cleaner y'and the converter is the same .as 'that jnstidescribed except-rin :the following particular, 'I'heslide 2815 ccrrespondinggenerally in-construction and function with the `slide `llland secured .to the converter in thesame .manner, .is extended beyond `the outer end 4or the converter and provided with a rest 196 which extendsover an .edge .of the converter defining thesocket .it and so as to be .actuated by a-:shou'ldenon the coupling l2 when the same is inserted. .in `the socket lil.. l1n this lWay the vbelt A,guardwl will lie-actuated to elevate .the front endV of rthe ycleaner by the insertion :of thecoupling .memyber` 7.2 into the socket inthe end ofthe converter SQ. In ,all other respects the construction and voperation of ythe embodiment illustrated in Fig. 8 is the v.same as that Apreviously described. AWhile I have illustrated andy described preferredembodiments Yof myinvention, itis understood that these are capable of .modication and I therefore ydo not :Wish to be limited to the .precise .details set `forth butvdesire to avail .myself of such changes .and alterations as fall within the .purview of the following claims.

I claim:

l. In a suction cleaner having a .rug nozzle and arranged for movement on a .surface covering with saidnozzle in operative relation with respect to said surface covering,`a fan rprovided with an with a `converter port, a hollow air conductingV converter insertable in said port so as to provide for circulation ofY air through .said converter into said communication and to substantially shutk oil "the flow of air from said nozzle to said fan inlet,a belt guard actuating member movably mounted onv Ysaid converter d and operable when said converter is arranged'in said port to shift said belt guard to a position for supporting said nozzle and agitator out of operative relation with said surface covering, said belt guard having part connected thereto which is arranged to be actuated by said belt guard actuating member.

2. A suction cleaner construction according to claim 1 wherein said agitator comprises a rotary brush arranged in said nozzle and wherein said belt guard is movable to a non-obstructing position relative to said nozzle to permit the removal of said brush therefrom.

3. In a suction cleaner having a rug nozzle and arranged for movement on a surface covering with said nozzle in operative relation with respect to said surface covering, a fan provided with an air inlet, means orming an air communication between said nozzle and fan inlet, a motor for driving said fan and having a shaft extending through said inlet into said communication, an agitator in said nozzle, a belt extending through said communication and connected to said agitator rand shaft ifor driving :said agitator duringoperation of .said motor, yar belt guardpivotally mounted on said `nozzle and normally spanning said nozzle below `said' belt, said vcommunication being provided with a .converter port, a .hollow air conducting converter insertable invsaid port so as .to 'provide for circulation of air through said converter into said communication and to substantially shut yoif the .flow of air from said nozzle to vsaid fanr inlet, Va belt `guard actuating member on `said converter operable to actuate said belt Iguard .to a position ,for supportingv said vnozzle and agitator out `of operative relation with said surface covering, said vbelt guard having a partconnected thereto which is arranged to be actuated icy-said belt guard actuating member.y

4. In `a suction 'cleaner .having .a rug :nozzle and arranged for movement on a .surface covering '-.vith said nozzle inoperative relation with respect to said .surface covering, a-fan provided with an air inlet, means .formingan air communication between said nozzle and .fan inlet, a motor .for driving said fanand having a shaft, an agitator in said nozzle, a beltl connected to said agitator and lshaft for driving .said lagitator during operation of said motor, a beltv guard pivotally mounted on said cleaner and normally spanning said nozzle below said belt, said communication being provided with -aconverter port, .a hollow air conducting converter insertable in said .port so as to provide for circulation of .airthrough said converter -intosaid communication and to Vsubstantiallyshut .off the flow of air from said nozzle Vto said fan inlet, and a belt `guard actuating memberon said converter and operable .to actuate said belt guard to a position for supporting saidvnozzle and 4agitator out of operative relation with said surface covering..

.5. V.In .a .suction cleaner vhaving a rug nozzle and .arranged for movement on .a surface covering .withsaid nozzle in .operative relation with a mot'orlfor .driving said fan and'having' a shaft extending through said inlet into said communication, an `agitator Vin rsaid nozzle, aV belt eX- tending through said'c'ommunication and connected to said agitator and shaft for driving said agitator during Voperation of said motor, a belt guard pivotally mounted on said cleaner and spanning said nozzle below said belt, said com.-

` mimication being providedfwith a converter port,

a hollow air conducting converter insertable in said port .so as to provide for circulation of air through said converter into said communication and to substantially shut 01T the flow of air from said nozzle to said fan inlet, a belt guard actuating member movably mounted on said converter and operable when said converter is arranged in said port to aetuate said belt guard to a position for supporting said nozzle and agitator out of operative relation with said surface covering, said belt guard having a part connected thereto which is arranged to be actuated by said belt guard actuating member.

6. In a suction cleaner having a rug nozzle and arranged for movement on a surface covering with said nozzle in operative relation with respect to said surface covering, a fan provided with an air inlet, means forming an air communication between said nozzle and fan inlet, a motor for driving said fan and having a shaft extending through said inlet into said communication, an agitator in said nozzle. a belt extending through said communication and connected `to said agitator and shaft for driving said agitator during operation of said motor, a belt guard pivotally mounted on said cleaner and spanning said nozzle below said belt, said communication being provided with a converter port, a hollow air conducting converter insertable in said port so as to provide for circulation of air through said converter into said communication and to substantially shut off the ilow of air from said nozzle to said fan inlet, a belt guard actuating member movably mounted on said converter, said converter being provided with a coupling socket, a coupling member insertable in said socket, said belt guard actuating member being positioned to be engaged and actuated by said coupling member upon insertion thereof into said socket when said converter is arranged in said port, and operable thereby to actuate said belt guard to a position for supporting said nozzle and agitator out of operative relation with said surface covering, said belt guard having a part connected thereto which is arranged to be actuated by said belt guard actuating member.

7. In combination with a suction cleaner having a rug nozzle and supported for movement on a surface covering with said nozzle in operative position with respect to said surface covering, a fan operable for inducing a now of air into said nozzle, an agitator associated with said nozzle, a motor for driving said fan, a converter port communicating with said nozzle and said fan, a. converter insertable into said port so as to establish a ow of air by said fan into said cleaner through said converter and to substantially shut off the flow of air into said nozzle, means carried by said cleaner and operable to elevate said nozzle out of operative relation with said surface covering, an

actuator for said means carried by said converter,

said converter having a socket, a coupling member insertable in said socket, said actuator being positioned to be engaged and actuated by said coupling upon insertion thereof into said socket.

8. In combination with a suction cleaner having a rug nozzle and supported for movement on a surface covering with said nozzle in operative position with respect to said surface covering, an agitator in said nozzle, a belt for driving said agitator, a motor, a fan driven by said motor and operable for inducing a flow of air into said nozzle and for driving said belt, a converter port communicating with said nozzle and said fan, a converter insertable into said port so as to" establish a flow of air by said fan into said cleaner through said converter and to substantially shut off the flow of air into said nozzle, a belt guard movably mounted on said cleaner and normally positioned to span said nozzle, and operable to elevate said nozzle out of operative relation with said surface covering, and an actuator on said converter Yfor shifting said belt guard and for locking said converter in said converter port.

9. In a suction cleaner having a rug nozzle and supported for movement on a surface covering with said nozzle in operative position with respect to said surface covering, a belt, an agitator driven by said belt and arranged within said nozzle, a fan operable for inducing a flow of air into said nozzle, a motor for driving said fan and said belt, a belt guard pivotally secured to said nozzle and normally spanning said nozzle below said belt, said belt guard being movable to elevate said nozzle' and agitator out of operative relation with said surface covering, said cleaner being provided with a communication between said nozzle and said fan and through which said belt extends. said communication being provided with a converter port, a converter insertable in said port and including provisions by means of which suction cleaning tools may be attached to said l cleaner by said converter, said converter having means mounted thereon and insertable therewith through said port into said communication for actuating said belt guard to elevate said nozzle and agitator out of operative relation with said surface covering.

l0. A suction cleaner construction according to claim 1 wherein said belt guard actuating member is provided with a portion projecting away from said converter and adapted to be engaged by the nger of an operator so that such belt guard actuating member may be moved.

- RALPH C. OSBORN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,642,518 Throop Sept. 13, 1927 2,024,261 White Dec. 17, 1935 2,076,390 White Apr. 6, 1937 2,103,101 Taylor VDec. 2'1, 1937 2,202,982 Bell June 4, 1940 2,259,386 L use Oct. 14, 1941 

